For velocipedes



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

No. 575,109. Patented Jan; 12, 1897.

III

(No Model. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. J GULIGK. I

HANDLE BAR FASTENING FOR VELOGIPEDBS.

No. 575,109. Patented Jan. 12. 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. GULIOK, OF JAMESTOWVN, NElV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE FENTON METALLIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

HANDLE-BAR FASTENING FOR VELOCIPEDES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 575,109, dated January 12, 1897.

Application filed September 30, 1895. Serial No. 564,169. (No model.) i

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. GULIcK, a citizen of the United States,residin g at Jam es- .town, in the county of Chautauqua and State ment of parts, substantially as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated the application of my invention to a bicycle-fork, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a handle-bar and stem. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a fork-stem. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sleeve. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the clamping-nut. Fig. 5 is a view showing the handle-bar and stem in side View and the other parts in section; and Fig. 6 is a side view, partially in section, of the handle-bar and stem, the fork, and a portion of the frame, showing the relations of the various parts.

It is well known that in the use of velocipedes it is often desirable to adjust the handle-bar in different positions, either by moving it up and down or turning it around, es pecially when the bar is reversible in its stem, in order to accommodate the handle-bar to persons of different heights and to various movements or positions in riding the machine, and numerous devices have been proposed for accomplishing this general result. It is also common to connect the frame-head with the fork-stem by means of ball-bearin gs, and it is also desirable to have means to adjust these connections and to take up for wear.

It is the object of my present invention to provide simple, cheap, and effective means whereby the handle-bar can be quickly and easily adjusted to the desired height or position and securely clamped, either while the rider is on the machine or otherwise, and at the same time to provide means for compensating for wear between the fork-stem and frame-head connections, and more especially is it the object of my invention to provide a single means whereby both of these objects can be readily and quickly attained, and I will now proceed to describe the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings.

The handle-bar A may be of any desired form or construction, and may be adjustable in its supports or not, as desired. In the present instance the TB is shown as having a crosspiece 13. with serrations or notches b 011 one edge, while the handle-bar A is provided with an enlargement A, having corresponding notch es a engaging the notches b on the crosspieee B, and there is anut A fitting the handle A and adjustable thereon to secure the handle-bar to the cross-piece B. This crosspiece is rigidly connected to or formed with the stem B and is adapted to be moved vertically and rotativelyin the upper portion of the fork-stem O. In this way the handle-bar can beadjusted up and down or at any desirable angle, or turned in its socket in the manner substantially as indicated in Fig. 6, and can be secured in any desired position to suit the requirements or wishes of the rider.

The fork-stem (a portion only of which is shown in the drawings) is screw-threaded externally at c, and is split or formed into sections by the cuts or openings 0, and is adapted to embrace the stem B of the handle-bar and to be clamped thereon to secure the parts rigidly together.

Mounted on the fork-stem is a sleeve D, which in the present instance is provided with a downwardly-extending flange D, forming'a recess D for the reception of the ballbearings D interposed between the sleeve and the steering-head F of the frame of the machine. This sleeve is provided with an internal screw-thread 0?, adapted to engage the screw-thread c on the fork-stem .O, and the upper portion is split or formed into sections by the cuts or openings cl. The sleeve is also provided with external screw-threads d for the reception of the nut E, and the upper portion of the sleeve is beveled, as at d The sleeve is further preferably provided with an upwardly-projeetin g rim (1 forming a recess (i into which fits the lower portion 6 of the nut- E.

The nut E, which may have any desired exterior configuration, is preferably provided with squared edges 6, to receive a wrench, if necessary, or to aid in securing it in position. The interior of the nut E is screw-threaded, as at c and adapted to engage the screwthreads (1 011 the sleeve D, and it is further formed with a recess to receive the balls c, which are adapted to bear upon the beveled portion 01 of the sleeve I). In order to prevent the ball-bearings e from falling out of the recess when the nut is removed, I provide the recess 0 with an overhanging projection, shown in the present instance in the form of a wire a", which can be readily sprung in place, and which will retain the balls in the recess 0 without interfering with their operation. Further, the nut has an inwardly-projecting ilange e' adapted to embrace the stem B and prevent the entry of dirt, dust, the.

The steering-head F of the frame is provided with an internal sleeve F, forming a bearing F for the balls D in connection with the flange D of the sleeve D. The steering head is also provided at the point F with ball-bearings 1 interposed between the steering-head of the frame and the crown C of the fork, and it is desirable to maintain these ball-bearings in proper relation and to adjust them for wear, and this Iaccomplish by means of my sleeve and nut in the manner hereinafter described.

\Vith this construction of parts the sleeve D is screwed upon the split end 0 of the forkstem, the screw threads (l meshing with the screw-threzuls c thereon, and the nut E is secured upon the sleeve, its internal threads 0 meshing with the external threads (Z on the sleeve. The stem B of the handle-bar is inserted in the split end of the fork-stem and adjusted in the desired position, when, on turning the nut, the ball-bearings e engage the beveled surface d of the sleeve, forcing the split ends thereof inward, and in turn forcing the split ends of the fork-stem positively against the stem B tightly clamping and holding the same in the position to which it is adjusted.

It will be seen that the ball-bearings engaging the beveled edge of the sleeve produce little or no friction, and at the same time force the split ends of the sleeve inward with great pressure, insuring an absolutely secure adjustment of the stem of the handlebar. Moreover, when the parts are in position the lower portion 6 of the nut fits in the recess (1 of the sleeve D, and the flange e engages the stem 15 forming practically dusttight joints.

The above construction embodies a most effective fastening device for the handle-bar, and at the same time permits of its ready adj ustment, as it is only necessary to turn the nut E slightly to relieve the pressure of the ball-bearings upon the beveled surface of the nut, when the handle-bar can be moved and adjusted as desired, and then by tightening the nut, which can be easily done, owing to the slight friction between the ball-bearings and the beveled portion of the sleeve, the parts can be securely clamped together.

\Vhen it is desired to adjust the sleeve with relation to the ball-bearings between it and the steering-head, the nut E can be loosened, when the sleeve can be turned 011 the forkstem to adjust it in the desired position with relation to the steering-head and bearings between the samc, and then the nut can be tightened again, and it will thus be seen that the same nut acts both to secure the handlebar adjustablyin the fork-stem, as well as to secure and adjust the ball-bearings between the fork-stem and the steeringdiead of the frame.

Vhat I claim is- 1. The combination with a contractile sleeve provided with screw-threads and a smooth inclined bearing-surface, of a nut engaging the screw-threads of the sleeve, provided with a recess, and balls within the recess adapted to engage thebearing-surface of the sleeve to contract the same, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the fork-stem, of a split sleeve mounted thereon havinga beveled edge, a nut mounted on the sleeve, and ball-bearings interposed between the nut and sleeve, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the fork-stem, of a split sleeve mounted thereon havinga beveled portion, a nut fitting the sleeve having a recess containing ball-bearings, and means for securing the hearings in the recess, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the split fork-stem and handle-stem fitting therein, of a split sleeve mounted on the fork-stem having internal and external screw-threads and a beveled edge, and a nut mounted on the sleeve having a recess, and balls engaging the faces of the recess and beveled portion of the sleeve, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDXVARD J. GULICK.

\Vitnesses:

EDWARD MORGAN, L. A. FENToN. 

